The Lady in Blue [Hardcover]

Javier Sierra (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 2007

An elaborately woven novel of intrigue about one of America's most curious and enduring legends -- the enigma of the Lady in Blue

In Los Angeles, Jennifer Narody has been having a series of disturbing dreams involving eerie images of a lady dressed in blue. What she doesn't know is that this same spirit appeared to leaders of the Jumano Native American tribe in New Mexico 362 years earlier, and was linked to a Spanish nun capable of powers of "bilocation," or the ability to be in two places simultaneously. Meanwhile, young journalist Carlos Albert is driven by a blinding snowstorm to the little Spanish town of Ágreda, where he stumbles upon a nearly forgotten seventeenth-century convent founded by this same legendary woman. Intrigued by her rumored powers, he delves into finding out more. These threads, linked by an apparent suicide, eventually lead Carlos to Cardinal Baldi, to an American spy, and ultimately to Los Angeles, where Jennifer Narody unwittingly holds the key to the mystery that the Catholic Church, the U.S. Defense Department, and the journalist are each determined to decipher -- the Lady in Blue.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Destiny propels an agnostic journalist to rediscover his faith in this intriguing paranormal puzzler about a mysterious bilocating lady in blue from bestseller Sierra (The Secret Supper). In 1629, Sister María Jesús de Ágreda appeared more than 500 times to the Jumano Indians of New Mexico and converted them to Christianity—without ever leaving her monastery in Spain. (The Inquisition suspected her of witchcraft.) In 1991, Spanish journalist Carlos Albert interviews Giuseppe Baldi, a Benedictine priest and musicologist about his 1972 Chronovision machine reported to recapture sounds as well as images from the past. (The Vatican censured Baldi.) Albert later stumbles on Ágreda's monastery in Spain, while in Los Angeles, Jennifer Narody, a former U.S. intelligence agent working on a secret project for the Vatican, deals with unusual dreams and receives a startling stolen religious text. Sierra's heady tale about a true flying nun should entertain Christian paranormal buffs, though some readers might have welcomed more about that Chronovision time machine. (June)
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From Booklist

The Spanish novelist follows up his reimagining of da Vinci's most famous painting in The Secret Supper (2006) with this curious exploration of the legend of the Lady in Blue, a seventeenth-century nun who, while in a trance state, would (or so the story goes) appear to people far away. (It's called bilocation—being in two places at the same time.) The novel focuses on a modern-day Spanish reporter, who, while investigating a story involving the shroud of Turin, discovers a convent founded centuries ago by the Lady in Blue. Intrigued by the legend and determined to find out the truth behind it, the reporter follows the trail to the U.S., where a woman with unique gifts might hold the answers to his questions. At once a paranormal thriller and an exploration of an enduring religious enigma, the novel is intellectually engaging and elegantly written. Fans of Sierra's previous novel should definitely read this one. Pitt, David

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; 1st Atria Books Hardcover Ed edition (June 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416532234
• ISBN-13: 978-1416532231
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,250,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Javier Sierra, whose works have been translated into thirty-five languages, is the author of The Lady in Blue and the New York Times bestseller The Secret Supper. His newest novel is The Lost Angel, a breathtaking thriller that explores mankind's eternal quest to discover the truth of our origins -and of our destiny.
A native of Teruel, Spain, Sierra currently lives in Madrid.
Please visit www.javiersierra.com and www.thelostangelbook.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A natural born storyteller at his best, June 19, 2007

By 

Juan Gomez-Jurado (Spain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lady in Blue (Hardcover)

Javier Sierra, New York Times bestselling author with "The secret supper" comes again with a story about Sister María Jesús de Ágreda, who appeared more than 500 times to the Jumano Indians of New Mexico and converted them to Christianity--without ever leaving her monastery in Spain. (The Inquisition suspected her of witchcraft.)

This character driven thriller hurls itself into the reader's consciousness at break-neck speed, and before the reader realizes it, the book holds the reader in its thrall: hook, line, and sinker. For those readers who love historical detail and accuracy in description, this is definitely a fascinating book that will hold their interest. The book is written in clear, effortless prose, which makes the 'hardest' sci-fi details surprisingly easy to understand.

'The Lady in Blue' delivers everything a reader would want in a thriller - and more. Perfect for vacation or weekend reading, this 352 page novel will keep readers entertained from start to finish.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars `I believe it because it is impossible to believe.', April 11, 2008

By 

J. Cameron-Smith "Expect the Unexpected" (ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lady in Blue (Hardcover)

What are the connections between the visions seen recently by Jennifer Narody, Carlos Albert and by the Mexican Jumano tribe some 300 years ago? Is it possible that the Lady in Blue is a sixteenth century nun with powers of bilocation? And why is the US Department of Defense interested?

Mr Sierra's novel is based in part on Sister María de Jesús who lived in Spain (1602 to 1665. An old Spanish historical mystery awakens the interest of a number of people including several cardinals in Rome. The novel is based on a famous legend that a strange Lady in Blue appeared to the Native Americans, informing them of the arrival of the first Conquistadores. The Conquistadores initially believed she was the Virgin of Guadalupe.

This novel is an interesting blend of legend and mystery, belief and fact. To some extent, the reader needs to decide where the boundaries are. For me, it was the action, rather than the characters that created the momentum in this novel. The Chronovision Project caught my attention, and I would love to read more about it.

This is not a particularly light read, but - depending on your views and values - it can be a rewarding one.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The truth is out there, June 29, 2007

By 

ellen "ellen in atlanta" (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: The Lady in Blue (Hardcover)

I have heard that spirit has the ability to appear in 2 places at once. This book is about bilocation, but about a living nun 400 years ago who could appear in SW America and facilitate the conversion to Christianity of Native Americans. The Catholic Church has been studying how this bilocation occurred to see the possiblilties of replacating it. Turns out there really was something called Chronovision (chrono means year in Greek) - that can go back in time and hear the actions and sometimes take photos of the actions in the past. One of the creators is censored, after he speaks to a magazine talking about their progress on this top secret project. This book also deals with synchronicity - one of my favorite words - where everything comes together - is interelated - A journalist who wants to know God exists, and follows signs he is given, a lady who dreams of the Lady in Blue and can see beyond her dreams. And the work of God in mysterious and very cool ways.
This is a wonderful book. It is based on fact of occurances in the past of sightings and although I haven't researched the people Sierra says really have tried to duplicate Chronovision, lists them for reference.
Cannot wait for the next Sierra book to be translated.